I'm not a great fan of Halloween - it isn't that big a tradition over here in the UK, although it is getting a bit bigger. Things like an aisle full of Halloween stuff at the local supermarket here indicate that it's becoming commercialised ... just like all the other fesivals.

My colleague Tom has an item in his blog about this ... go here to see it.

Nope...can't say I agree with that. In fact, in most cases, I rather emphatically disagree. Your colleague sounds like a real scrooge regarding the holiday...not that there aren't a few like that here as well. I'll have to admit, though, I am biased for two reasons, one is that I've never had a negative Halloween related experience, as a young trick-or-treater or while dressed up in costume handing out candies to the kids that come to the door...I've never been egged or had my house decorated in toilet paper, never been threatened by angry little monsters or anything like that; I also don't care how old the kids are, I give candy to anyone who comes to the door, why shouldn't everyone be allowed to have fun?

The second reason for my bias? Well, Halloween happens to be my birthday, and I refuse to associate anything bad with that...even if it does make me officially "over 40" tomorrow! :)